Boating and Sailing.pdf - Moja ladja

Chapter 7: People Management and Safety Aboard
Baseball caps, a favorite of anglers, don’t protect the ears at all. Hats that have a full brim
do much better, although it’s hard to keep them on. The goofy-looking Florida flats guide
hats, with brims fore and aft, are very useful and stay on well. They also protect the back
of the neck—great hats, even though they do make you look a bit like Sherlock Holmes.
Note, however, that large-brimmed hats and sailboats don’t always mix—they can obstruct
the view of the sails or masthead wind indicator. That is why most traditional sailing hats
have small brims, or brims that can be turned up.
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Sun protection includes a
shirt with a collar and
sleeves, a long-billed hat, and
polarized sunglasses. And
don’t forget to cover all
exposed skin with an SPF-
15 sunscreen!
(Photo credit: Darla Sargeant)
Boat Bytes
A“cap-keeper” is a big help in keeping your cap on aboard boats that run more
than 20 mph. It can be as simple as a cord around your chin. One useful model
has alligator clips at each end of a cord; clip one to your cap and the other to
the back of your shirt collar. Otherwise, be prepared to donate a hat to the “seagods”
every once in a while.
Your Feet Need Protection, Too
Don’t forget to protect the tops of your feet if you don’t wear socks—the area between
your ankle and your toenails is exposed to the direct rays at a near-vertical angle and will
burn much quicker than your legs. Boaters often go barefoot or sockless in hot weather,
so this area is highly vulnerable.